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This year marks the fourth year Philadelphia has celebrated Mexican Week, an event celebrating the culture of our southern neighbor.

The week coincides with Cinco de Mayo, the holiday most American associate with the country of Mexico. Commonly mistaken with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Mexican Army’s defeat of French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

The week kicked off with a Cinco De Mayo celebration in Kennett Square on Sunday. Then on Monday, Mayor Jim Kenney, Mexican Consul Carlos I. Giralt Cabrales and other officials held a ceremonial flag raising where the Mexican Flag was raised alongside the American flag at City Hall.  

On Wednesday, the Mexican Week celebrations will continue with the opening of an exhibit at LaSalle University called “Border Crossings: Immigration in contemporary prints.” The exhibit will be on display until June 9.

You can see a full listing of the events for Mexican week below. Specific Mexican restaurants in the City will also have promotional menu items throughout the week. You can see those on the event’s website here.